Hampden X3001 near Lindholme airfield.
On 28th October 1940 the crew of this 49 Squadron aircraft were returning from an operational flight and had been instructed to divert to Lindholme airfield. On their approach to land here the aircraft was attacked by an intruder aircraft piloted by Lt.Heinz Volker of 3/NJG 2. The Hampden suffered punctured tyres and the hydraulic accumulator was damaged but a safe landing was made.
Pilot - P/O John Henry Green RAF (42748), aged 22, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Observer - Sgt Walter Donald Frank Huggett RAFVR (742585).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Edward B Torpey RAFVR (746852), aged 20, of Hull, Yorkshire.
Air Gunner - Sgt H McIver RAF.
John Green was born in Vancouver on 30th May 1918 and was educated at Alberni District High School. Hugh Halliday reports that his father worked at Allison
Logging Company, Queen Charlotte Islands. He was granted a short service commission as Acting Pilot Officers on probation on 9th October 1939 in the RAF, he was later
graded as Pilot Officer on probation on 4th May 1940 and confirmed as P/O on 4th August 1940. He joined 49 Squadron on 12th October 1940 and flew his first operational
flight on the night of 16th/17th October 1940. After a remarkably short period he was recommended for the DFC on 28th November 1940 which stated that.. "This Canadian officer joined his squadron on 12th October 1940, and carried out his first operation, as a First Pilot, on 16th October.
On this occasion he flew through extremely difficult weather conditions and was one of four out of twelve aircraft to locate and attack
enemy submarines at Bordeaux. On 20th November this officer was captain of an aircraft detailed to bomb the Skoda works in Czechoslovakia
which he attacked successfully from 1,500 feet causing fires and explosions. Pilot Officer Green's work as an operational pilot has been
outstanding and his enthusiasm, skill and courage have been a source of inspiration to the newly joined flying personnel in his squadron.
He has completed a total of ten operational flights against the enemy during the course of which he has completed 77 hours flying as a first
pilot."
For service with 49 Squadron he was awarded the DFC, Gazetted on 17th January 1941. He was the pilot of Hampden X3001 when it was shot down over Holland on
11th February 1941 and became a PoW but received a promotion to F/O (war subs) on 4th May 1941 and later to F/Lt. Post-War he remained in the RAF and continued to fly. On 17th September 1947 he was flying Spitfire TP454 as part of the Battle of Britain air display over Bournemouth when the aircraft crashed into the sea. He was sadly killed and is buried at Brookwood Cemetery, and was twenty nine years old. At the time of his death he was married to Irene who lived in South Kensington, London.
Edward Torpey was born on 27th February 1920, he enlisted on 20th March 1939 and was working as a clerk at the time and living on Welbeck Street in Hull.
Sgt Torpey became a POW on 25th November 1940 when Hampden X3052 failed to return from Ops to Hamburg.
Sgt Huggett is believed to be one Sgt W D F Huggett. 49 Squadron Association name him as "Dave Huggett" where as the London Gazette records his later commission on
6th March 1942 under the name of "Walter Donald Huggett" to the rank of P/O on probation (emergency). He later rose to F/O (war subs) on 1st October 1942 and F/Lt (war subs)
on 6th March 1944. He was posted to 692 Squadron before the end of the War and was awarded the DFC for service with this unit flying Mosquitoes, Gazetted on 16th February 1945.
Having survived the War he was appointed a short service commission in the RAF on 1st January 1951 as F/Lt. He retired on 21st April 1963.
Hampden X3001 was built to contract B994449/49 by English Electric Co.Ltd. at Samlesbury and was awaiting collection in September 1940. It was allotted to 12 MU on 22nd September 1940 and was received by them on 8th October 1940. It was then taken on charge by
49 Squadron at Scampton on 12th October 1940. The aircraft's AM Form 78 states that it was transferred to 83 Squadron on 13th October 1940 but if correct then it was transferred back to 49 Squadron soon after. It sustained Cat.M/FB on 28th October 1940 in a flying accident near Lindholme which saw it repaired on site and
returned to 49 Squadron. On 11th February 1941 it was lost with Cat.E(m) damage when it failed to return from Hannover when it was shot down by a night-fighter and crashed in Holland. On this occasion one of the crew died while the other three became POW's. Of those named above P/O Green was pilot on this occasion and became a POW.